Monday, March 16, 2009

In October, after receiving $85 billion in bail out finds, AIG spend $440,000 hosting a corporate retreat at St Regis Monarch Beach resort, on the California coast. (see http://www.wisebread.com/the-aig-retreat-pictures-why-its-worse-than-you-think). Today we are surprised and indignant that AIG is paying bonuses.

Let me get the big picture in focus. AIG executives manage to loose $61.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008 taking the prestigious record for the largest corporate loss in history. The US government gives these same executives $170 billion in bail out funds to save the company because the company is "too big to fail." Now everyone is surprised that AIG turned around and paid out more than $165 million in bonuses to these same executives. I don’t know who I am more disgusted with: the people who give out our tax dollars, the people who receive them or the people who are suprised that business practices haven't changed. If we give billions of dollars to people who have mismanaged billions of dollars, why are we surprised that the money is mishandled again?

The $165 million was payable to executives by Sunday and was part of a larger total payout reportedly valued at $450 million. The company has benefited from more than $170 billion in a federal rescue.

AIG reported this month that it had lost $61.7 billion for the fourth quarter of last year, the largest corporate loss in history. The bulk of the payments at issue cover AIG Financial Products, the unit of the company that sold credit default swaps, the risky contracts that caused massive losses for the insurer.

Maybe it’s time to fire some people? Let’s investigate? I propose a very simpler solution.

Demand the $170 billion back

Resolve that AIG will not get one more cent of bailout money.

Make it a deal breaking condition that any company that intends to pay bonuses, or does pay bonuses will receive no bailout money.

How hard is this? If you want help…don’t pay bonuses, don’t take corporate vacations, no raises, use every cent of your capital to strengthen your company until you can stand on your own and pay back what you borrowed. Then you can do what you want.

I can hear it now. But we have contractual obligations! Answer: Not our problem!!! If you want the money, those are the conditions, you figure it out.

The Mosse Family

About us

is Alfie, Julie, Joseph, Micah Joy, and Anya Mosse’. We are followers of Jesus, and since 2003 He has led us on an incredible adventure in the country of Ukraine- first in the capitol city of Kiev, then in the southern port city of Odessa. We have the privilege of serving God by serving His people and helping to grow His church as missionaries with SEND Intl. In Odessa, Alfie primarily teaches at Odessa Theological Seminary and serves as SEND Odessa team leader. Julie teaches English, home schools our youngest, Anya and manages the house and kiddos. Both teach one day a week at the local MK school, assist in various churches and are part of an urban church planting team. Living in Odessa we continually look forward to the joys, blood, sweat and tears of the Kingdom work to which God has called us!